City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: ADRIANA Castañeda, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support a Grant Application to the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund Program to implement the Valley Drive Storm Drain Improvements Flood Action Alexandria capital project. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Staff is requesting City Council approval to submit a 60/40 matching grant application to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) of up to $2,160,000 to fund the Valley Drive Storm Drain Improvements estimated at $3,600,000 to reduce flooding issues for the residents in the Valley Drive area from the intersection of Crestwood Drive south to Dogwood Drive.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve the attached Resolution to support a Round 5 Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) grant application; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to submit this resolution and enter into any agreements that may be required to receive these funds should the requested allocation be approved.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), was established to provide support for regions and localities across Virginia to reduce the impacts of flooding, including flooding driven by Climate Change. The CFPF prioritizes projects that are in concert with local, state, and federal floodplain management standards, local resilience plans, and the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan. The Fund empowers communities to complete vulnerability assessments and develop and implement action-oriented approaches to bolster flood preparedness and resilience.
The 30-day solicitation window closes on November 9, 2024. Projects must be completed no later than three years from the start date of the executed agreement, with the ability to request two one-year extensions.
DISCUSSION: The City has been experiencing widespread flooding due to the increase in high intensity precipitation events associated with climate change. The City’s Flood Action Alexandria program includes capital infrastructure projects and operating programs to help mitigate the impacts of flooding in the community.
Valley Drive and nearby residents have been experiencing damage to their houses from localized flooding on a frequent basis. Multiple residents reported in-home flooding due to water not captured by the existing inlets. The Valley Drive neighborhood is located between Crestwood Drive and Dogwood Drive to the north and south, and Ridge Road and Oakcrest Drive to the east and west, respectively. The City’s consultant assessed the current conditions and storm drain network in the neighborhood and determined that potential solutions may include enlargement of current curb inlets and rerouting the local storm drain system. The project will also consider the incorporation of natural based solutions such as Green Infrastructure, if feasible.
FISCAL IMPACT: Under the CFPF Project category, applicants can apply for grant funding of 60% that requires a 40% local match for localities to implement a ‘hybrid solution’ that includes adding natural based solutions like Green Infrastructure to traditional grey infrastructure projects. If approved by DCR, the grant would cover 60%, or up to $2,160,000 of the estimated $3,600,000 total project cost, with the remainder of the project funded through FY 2025 CIP funds. To date, the City has received over $6.4 million in CFPF grants. This includes grant funding to accelerate portions of the Edison and Dale Large Capacity Project that is slated to receive CIP funding in FY 2026 of the 10-Year Stormwater Utility Plan, funding Green Infrastructure design for the Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Large Capacity Project, developing a formal Inlet Program, funding for the Waterfront Project, and developing a Flood Resilience Plan. While there is funding in the program to likely fund Round 6, the administration continues to oppose Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which serves as a funding source for the CFPF (and other programs) through the auction of carbon allowances.
Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) is working with the Department of Project Implementation (DPI) to submit application materials by the state’s November 9, 2024 deadline. If Council does not approve this project for grant funding, this project would be wholly funded out of the City’s Storm Sewer Spot Improvements program using FY 2025 and FY 2026 funds.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Alicia Wright, Acting Assistant Director, T&ES
Morgan Routt, Director, OMB
William J. Skrabak, Deputy Director, Environmental Services, T&ES
Jesse E. Maines, Division Chief, Stormwater Management, T&ES
Arthur Wicks, Capital Improvement Program Manager, OMB